Chapter 94: Encountering The Enemy In The Mountains
In the forest, Xilutiya walked under the black twisted trees, holding a sword in one hand and a rattan basket in the other.
The ground here was covered in withered fallen leaves, and the branches overhead were mostly dry leaves too, with gloomy mist enveloping the forest, making the woodland below especially deep and shadowy.
Such trees… Xilutiya recalled the scenes she saw in the Shadow World, but there was no aura of Twisted Nature here.
It might be the influence of other Natures, she thought to herself.
After advancing a few hundred meters, she stopped, her gaze turning to the distant forest shadows ahead to the right, slightly raising the sword hilt she gripped.
Strange fellow, the maiden thought silently, then set down the basket in her left hand.
A red-cheeked mongoose swiftly ran through the woodland, its fur color blending with the dim environment, its flexible body weaving through low trees and shrubs, its two eyes blood-red, and its body covered in short, stiff fur like a hedgehog’s.
When this red-cheeked mongoose was about eighty meters from Xilutiya, its speed slowed, as if sensing the maiden, and it began to circle lightly and cautiously, its steps light and silent as it moved, its fur matching the environment perfectly; an ordinary student would not notice it at all.
Unfortunately, even such careful actions were detected by Xilutiya, because in her eyes, this red-cheeked mongoose stood out like a torch at night—whether its own Nature or its body temperature so different from the plants, it clashed with the surroundings.
After waiting a short while and seeing the red-cheeked mongoose still circling, preparing to attack from behind, Xilutiya thought for a moment, then picked up the basket and walked straight ahead, not wasting time waiting.
Her steps seemed unhurried, but each landed on the firmer ground in the forest without picking up any mud, while the red-cheeked mongoose, seeing her moving away, had to quicken its pace slightly.
In this way, the maiden and the mongoose proceeded one after the other through the forest for about a mile, then Xilutiya stopped again, took out the Emerald Pupil potion, dripped it into her eyes, preparing to observe the situation and search for traces of the spring water.
Seeing the maiden occupied with other matters, the red-cheeked mongoose with faint intelligence sensed its chance; it burst rapidly from the woodland behind her, its grayish body racing swiftly, its blood-red eyes full of excitement, and when about three meters from the maiden, it leaped up, pouncing toward her nape.
However, what awaited it was not the fair neck behind her black hair, but the maiden’s amused turn with a smile, as a black steel sword easily slashed horizontally, directly severing the cunning red-cheeked mongoose’s neck.
Like a huge dead mouse, the red-cheeked mongoose was flung aside by the steel sword, crashing into tree roots before rolling to a stop, motionless.
Shaking her head, the maiden approached a few steps and used her sword to prod the dead red-cheeked mongoose, checking its condition.
It was just one step away from condensing the Blood Law Nature; if an ordinary student encountered it, they might be in big trouble—caught off guard, they could get injured, and its saliva was poisonous, likely causing the bitten person to feverishly coma for several nights.
However, why was this wild beast specifically targeting her? She had also condensed a complete First Order Emerald Honey, and these wild beasts generally did not choose opponents who were too strong.
It seemed that such an assessment trial had powerful Transcendents organizing it from behind, as these wild beasts had all been altered in their original habits, becoming more aggressive.
After dealing with this red-cheeked mongoose, Xilutiya continued observing the mountain forest situation, and at this point, she finally detected a trace of Mist Shadow Nature.
It should be that direction, the maiden looked at the mountains shrouded in tree shadows, decided on the direction, and continued forward.
……
In another part of the forest, Komiya shook the bell in her hand, and a white Ti Lang, covered in dew, shuttled through the shrubs before joyfully coming to her side.
“Dough, you’ve finally come.” Komiya squatted down, stroked the utterly dog-like Ti Lang, then took dried meat from the bag at her waist and fed it.
With this companion’s help, Komiya, who had been deeply worried, felt reassured.
She took out a small bottle of Cold Mist Wine from her bosom, dripped a few drops onto her fingertip, and let Dough lick it.
“Search carefully, and if you find a place with a similar aura, lead me there.” Komiya stroked its ears and told it her needs.
In response, the Ti Lang whined a few times, then walked ahead of Komiya.
Though she didn’t know if Dough truly had a lead, Komiya had no better means of searching for now.
“I’ll follow you for now, but don’t lead me into some mountain gully.” Komiya picked up her basket and followed.
……
On one side of the mountain forest, Suolin gripped his sword with both hands, his expression grave as he stared at the blue-green giant snake raising its head before him.
【Forest Mist Snake】（First Order·Mist Shadow）: Can change the color of its scales to match the surroundings, while also adjusting its body temperature and aura at will, making it harder for other creatures to detect; it has Poison Fang, and if it advances to Second Order, it gains the ability of misty hidden body.
He hadn’t found the spring water using the Wind-Seeking Chicken; instead, he found this stealthy giant snake.
Fortunately, as he approached, the Wind-Seeking Chicken reacted violently, alerting him early to be cautious, or else he would have been successfully ambushed by the snake.
The blue-green giant snake before him was a bit thicker than his thigh; if coiled around, he probably couldn’t break free, and he also had to watch for its Poison Fang, forcing Suolin to respond carefully.
After observing carefully for a while, Suolin decided to strike first—his Ability was better suited for offense than defense anyway.
With a lunging step forward, he swung his broadsword in a large arc through the air, whipping up a whistling wind, and chopped directly at the blue-green giant snake.
Facing the attack, the Forest Mist Snake didn’t sit idly; its gaze fierce, its dangerous triangular snake head shot out, bypassing the broadsword’s swing and lunging straight at Suolin’s face.
The broadsword struck the snake’s lower belly, scraping off scales; these hard scales were like iron saw blades, sparking faintly against the sword blade, while the snake head’s bite was narrowly dodged by Suolin, clamping onto his shoulder leather armor.
The sharp Poison Fang pierced the leather armor, slightly penetrating Suolin’s muscle, sending intense pain through him, while a chill sweat broke out on his back.
Careless, he muttered inwardly, then unleashed his full power, swinging the broadsword to slice a deep gash in the snake’s lower belly, severing part of its tail.
He then decisively dropped the sword, gripping the snake head on his shoulder with both hands, pulling out its Poison Fang; his arm muscles bulged instantly, and the explosive strength rendered the Forest Mist Snake’s violent struggles futile.
One hand barely held down the writhing snake body like a giant python, as Suolin grabbed the sword hilt with the other, slamming it down like a guillotine onto the snake head, crushing scales, sinking into flesh, with the sword blade lodging in the snake bones.
At this point, his sword-holding right hand was already numbing; knowing time was short, Suolin lifted the sword hilt again and swiftly pressed down once more.
Scales shattered and bones snapped almost simultaneously; this time, the snake head was finally severed, landing on the ground with its eyes still fierce, its protruding tongue flicking at Suolin’s hand, sending shivers down his spine—but without its body, the lone head could no longer move, and its dripping fangs were useless.
Though he still hadn’t found the Sweet Water Spring, Suolin had prematurely defeated a First Order exotic beast monster, achieving one goal, but his current condition was precarious; if he couldn’t detoxify quickly, even exiting this forest would be a problem.
……
Like Xilutiya and Suolin, the students entering the forest successively encountered enemies; some with superior strength won their battles, while others, due to insufficient experience and reactions, failed and exited early.
